Chapter 53: The Jinx
Chapter 53: The Jinx
Yang Xin stared at Xiong Tingbi’s retreating back with a sense of dread…
He really couldn’t understand how the man had recognized him. Given the extent of his changed appearance, even he himself would have a hard time connecting his current look to that of the beggar he once was when looking in a mirror. Cao Wenzhao shouldn’t have betrayed him; Old Cao’s loyalty was still trustworthy. One had to admit, the whole thing was just too bizarre.
Yet now, his fate was in Xiong Tingbi’s hands.
If Xiong Tingbi exposed him…
Then he could only run. After all, Emperor Wanli had only pardoned him for the crime of accidental killing. The emperor didn’t know about his previous deeds, and that wanted poster was still pasted on the city gate. In other words, he had deceived Wanli. A crime like deceiving the emperor alone was enough to send him to the execution ground, not to mention he had just beaten up a City Patrol Censor and a bunch of Imperial College Students. Someone like him deserved to be cut into a thousand pieces for his numerous misdeeds. On the contrary, if Xiong Tingbi could put in a few good words for him, he could basically get through this crisis. After all, Xiong was the commander of the Liaodong battlefield. At this time, Wanli would be very willing to give him face. And censors like Zuo Guangdou wouldn’t dare to be too disrespectful either, since Xiong also held the hat of a Right Assistant Censor-in-Chief.
But…
Why would Xiong Tingbi help him?
Why help a guy who had once held a sword to his own neck?
“You always have to pay back what you owe in this world!”
Yang Xin sighed sorrowfully.
He just gazed into the distance at the Gate of Heavenly Succession, silently awaiting the judgment of his fate. He didn’t know how much time had passed when a squad of Imperial Guards suddenly rushed out from the Gate of Heavenly Succession, heading straight toward them.
“Assistant Commissioner Xu, could you go ahead and ask for me?”
Yang Xin said.
Xu Xianchun thought he was under too much psychological pressure and merely smiled slightly as he stood up, completely unaware that this guy was already planning escape routes, even considering taking him hostage as an option. Xu Xianchun walked towards the approaching squad of Imperial Guards. He soon met them head-on. Their rank was lower than his, so they quickly dismounted and saluted. Yang Xin’s sharp ears immediately caught their conversation, and he quickly abandoned any thought of escaping.
“Brother Yang, His Majesty summons you!”
Xu Xianchun returned and said.
“Should I change my clothes?”
Yang Xin looked at the bloodstains on his own clothes.
Xu Xianchun was straightforward. He promptly took off his own straight robe and gave it to him. After changing into the clothes, Yang Xin bid him farewell and followed the squad of Imperial Guards through the Gate of Heavenly Succession, heading straight for the Qianqing Palace once again.
This time, it was the main hall.
Yang Xin entered, performed the ritual greeting, and obediently prostrated himself on the floor, waiting. At the same time, he glanced upward, peeking at Emperor Wanli on the throne. He had never seen Wanli stand up and couldn’t be sure if his legs were bad, but Wanli’s poor health was real. He was quite obese, with an unhealthy pale complexion. He was holding Yang Xin’s telescope and looking outside with great interest. This time, Consort Zheng was not present. Next to Wanli was an old eunuch who also appeared to be in his fifties or sixties. This one wore a red tieli robe, a three-peak hat (also called a steel fork hat) on his head, and a rank badge on his chest depicting a dragon-like beast with ox horns and a fish tail.
This was the “fighting bull” design.
Python, flying fish, and fighting bull were all dragon-shaped. The difference was that the python had a dragon tail, the flying fish had a fish tail, and the fighting bull had ox horns and a fish tail.
And the fighting bull rank badge signified that this old eunuch was of the highest rank among eunuchs.
Or rather, a true eunuch.
This was undoubtedly the top eunuch of the Great Ming Dynasty at this time: the Seal-holding Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial and Supervisor of the Eastern Depot, Lu Shou. On the right side of the hall stood censors like Zuo Guangdou. On the left side stood Tianqi and Xiong Tingbi. This arrangement made Yang Xin heave a sigh of relief. Clearly, Xiong Tingbi had not added to his troubles and had obviously spoken in his favor.
This made things easier.
“This thing is quite useful!”
Wanli said, holding up the telescope.
“Replying to Your Majesty, this was also taught by the immortal. This object can magnify what you see by four times. You can even see a person’s face clearly from half a li away.”
Yang Xin said.
“Frivolous craft and clever tricks!”
A censor sneered.
“Not necessarily so. If that is truly the case, then on watchtowers in the army, one could see much farther. At least more preparations could be made if the enemy attacks suddenly. In battle formations, this object could also be used to identify the enemy commander among their troops. Then, one only needs to gather cannons to bombard him.”
Xiong Tingbi said with a smile.
“Hmph!”
That censor snorted coldly.
“Was that ‘Five Strategies to Pacify Liaodong’ also taught by an immortal?”
Wanli asked with interest.
“That was not solely this commoner’s merit. This commoner merely knows more about the terrain of Liaodong. The ‘Five Strategies to Pacify Liaodong’ were jointly researched by this commoner, along with Chen Yujie, nephew of the Junior Advisor of the Left Xu Guangqi, and Cao Wenzhao, a former squad leader under the Regional Military Commander of Xuanzhen. This commoner understands geography, Government Student Chen is well-versed in the various tribes of Liaodong and maritime transport, and Squad Leader Cao is knowledgeable in military affairs. The three of us complemented each other perfectly. Driven by a heart loyal to the nation, we finally researched these five strategies.”
Yang Xin said modestly.
“A government student, a fugitive, and a squad leader. What a joke!”
Another censor said disdainfully.
“Does loyalty to the nation distinguish between noble and humble? Is worrying for the state only the duty of the high-ranking officials in the hall? Can commoners not be loyal to the nation? Are commoners not qualified to worry for the state? What’s wrong with being a government student? Were you not once a government student yourself? What’s wrong with a squad leader? Is it you who kills the enemy on the battlefield?”
Yang Xin righteously and indignantly rebuked.
“Well said! How can loyalty to the nation have distinctions of noble and humble? If all the commoners under heaven think of being loyal to the nation, how could our Great Ming not achieve peace across the land?”
Tianqi said.
The censors responded with silence.
“And how dare you claim there are many informants among the people of Liaodong?”
Wanli said.
“Your Majesty, who is ‘Wild Boar Skin’? He was originally a household servant of Li Chengliang. Is there any old general in Liaodong he doesn’t recognize? Which powerful family in Liaodong hasn’t done business with him? How was Fushun Pass lost? Isn’t the precedent of Li Yongfang profound enough? This commoner can state here with certainty that informants will open the gates of Kaiyuan for him, then open the gates of Tieling, and even the gates of Shenyang and Liaoyang.”
Yang Xin said.
“Alarmist talk and reckless nonsense!”
A censor angrily shouted.
However, he then noticed Wanli’s gaze was somewhat strange.
“Alarmist talk and reckless nonsense. Unfortunately, he was right!”
Wanli suddenly let out a cold laugh.
He then threw a memorial in front of that censor.
“Your insight is not even as good as a commoner’s. Kaiyuan has fallen. Ma Lin died in battle. Informants opened the gates. The informants inside the city and the Jiannu outside attacked Ma Lin from both sides. Ma Lin, who went out to meet the enemy, was caught in a dilemma and perished in Kaiyuan along with his Deputy General Yu Hualong. His alarmist talk was correct. Informants caused the Great Ming to lose Fushun Pass. Informants caused the Great Ming to lose Kaiyuan. I very much want to know if next, Tieling will also have its gates opened by informants as he predicted!”
He said.
All those censors closed their mouths.
“As for you, your previous crime of accidentally causing death has been pardoned. But your assault on a City Patrol Censor was committed after the pardon and is not covered by it. Using force to resist arrest and injuring others is originally a capital crime. However, what the latter did was also not justified. The Imperial College Students did trespass into a private residence. Regardless of the reason, you are not guilty for injuring them. As for wearing clothing that violates regulations, since you were dressed like this when you last saw me, I consider that I have already permitted you to do so. Your only crime is injuring the City Patrol Censor. But this time, you have rendered service by presenting the telescope. I will allow you to atone for your crime through merit. Go to Liaodong with Xiong Tingbi as a commoner. If you cannot cut off ten Jiannu heads, then you will make up the number with your own head.”
Wanli said, looking at Yang Xin.
“This commoner thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness!”
Yang Xin hurriedly said.
The censors looked at him with indignation.
However, they didn’t dare say anything more. Wanli had made his decision; to persist would be slapping his face right in front of him.
Wanli then shooed them all out. Everyone quickly withdrew from the main hall. The censors each left in a huff, with Censor Liu looking particularly furious. Wanli’s verdict was clearly a criticism of him. Soon, only the three of them remained outside the Qianqing Palace gate.
“Don’t forget my Rubik’s Cube!”
Tianqi said.
“Don’t worry, Imperial Eldest Grandson. I’ll send it to you tomorrow!”
Yang Xin said.
“Write down more of the things you know, in case you die in Liaodong!”
Tianqi said, showing no consideration for his feelings.
“Imperial Eldest Grandson, can’t you wish me some good luck? After all, I’m going to kill enemies for the nation. But I’ll try my best. You’d better go back and find a few people who write quickly and take them to Junior Advisor Xu’s residence. I’ll try my best to dictate more of what I know for them to record. Whether these are the things you want or not, I can’t guarantee. In short, I will just speak my mind, but I cannot guarantee what the content will be.”
Yang Xin said.
“Then I’ll go and keep an eye on you myself!”
Tianqi said.
He then gave a nod to Xiong Tingbi and walked off on his own as the latter bowed.
“Military Commissioner Xiong, thank you!”
Yang Xin immediately said to Xiong Tingbi.
“I still underestimated you!”
Xiong Tingbi said with interest.
“I’m also very curious. How did you recognize me?”
Yang Xin asked, puzzled.
“Do you know how you are different from other people?”
Xiong Tingbi said.
“Please enlighten me!”
Yang Xin said.
“The words you use when you speak. If you didn’t open your mouth, then I, Xiong, truly would not have recognized you. Your current appearance is completely different from before; it’s indeed impossible to recognize. However, the moment you speak, not just I, Xiong, but anyone who has heard you speak and remembers you deeply would instantly recognize you. I, Xiong, don’t know where you come from or what your previous identity was, but you are truly different from others here. A person’s appearance can change, but daily habits are hard to change.”
Xiong Tingbi said.
“Then am I not like a firefly in the pitch black?”
Yang Xin said.
That was true.
No matter how much he tried to adapt to the way people of this era spoke, the habits formed since childhood were not so easy to change. Less than two months was definitely not enough time to turn him from a modern person into a Ming Dynasty person. Just his daily choice of words was different from others. It should be noted that the vernacular of the Ming Dynasty was not the same as modern vernacular. Although it didn’t hinder mutual understanding—because the words he used were also used by people of this time, just not in the same way he used them—the meaning had no difference. People who hadn’t heard him speak before might just find his speech a bit strange when hearing him. But if someone who had a strong memory of him from before heard him speak, they would immediately recognize him.
“I, Xiong, depart the day after tomorrow. You have one day and two nights to prepare!”
Xiong Tingbi said.